Author Topic: Cold Feet! Buurrrr (Read 1129 times)

bigchast1 · « **on:** September 09, 2009, 05:25:13 AM »

Hey y'all! I was wantin to know if any of yins outdare use or have tried dimdare BootBlanket, or other such type outside the boot insulator(feet keeper warmer). I get cold toes and was wanting some feedback b4 spending 50-60 bucks and they not work much better than the boots with wool socks. Any and all comments are being accepted. Thanks fellers'

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #1 on:** September 09, 2009, 05:32:47 AM »

I'm currently using these. The key is to put them on the minute you get to the stand and not wait until your feet start getting cold.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20564-cat20588&id=0020696830362a&navCount=12&podId=0020696&parentId=cat20588&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=QZ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

burntmuch · « **Reply #2 on:** September 09, 2009, 05:46:43 AM »

I use the Ice breaker boot blankets. They work great. But their too bulky for my treestand. Last year I took a wool blanket & made some big boot covers. They worked great & didnt cost me anything. They take up less room in the pack too.

kynardsj · « **Reply #3 on:** September 09, 2009, 08:06:10 AM »

I have a pair of Boot Blanket overshoes that I put on as soon as I get into the stand. They really help.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** September 09, 2009, 06:03:24 PM »

Yup I too have the Ice Breaker Boot Blanket as well as their hand blanket to stick my already gloved hands into. Both help but neither really keep my feet or hands warm on really cold days and I'm in Alabama.

squirrellluck · « **Reply #5 on:** September 09, 2009, 06:41:52 PM »

For years my feet froze. Didnt matter what I did Tried everthing even boot blankets Wife bought me some boot dryers presto! Feet stay warmer and boot blankets now are effective My boots would feel dry but moisture remained trapped in the insoles. Might help you I know I am sold on them

Savage .250 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 10, 2009, 02:47:45 AM »

My son has a pair and he seems to like them. Got his from B/P shops.

teddy12b · « **Reply #7 on:** September 10, 2009, 03:57:49 AM »

I've been watching the boot blanket type products on Cabelas for years now and never bought them. My feet freeze and nothing takes away from the joy of a hunt more than cold feet. Last year I ended up just taking a camo fleece blanket out there with me and wrapped myself up in that while in my ground blind. That blanket did wonders for keeping me warm. I wrapped it around my boots as well and it really helped. My boots are Rocky 800gram thinsulate that might as well be sandals.

bulletstuffer · « **Reply #8 on:** September 12, 2009, 06:32:32 PM »

bigchast1,

I struggled for so many years with cold body parts head to toe. Often wondered if I was going to make it much past sunrise in the deer stand. Finally figured out the combination that kept me warm in an open stand for 6 hours when the morning temp started at -4 and never came out of single digits. No deer that day but did see a bobcat sneak through

The icebreaker boot blankets are great but bulky. Getting them on as soon as you get into the stand is key. Polypropylene socks under smartwool socks inside a 1000 gram boot or if its really cold Sorel pack boots that are rated to -100 then covered by the boot blanket. Sounds extreme but I dont get cold. Icebreaker hand muff is stuffed with 2-4 large heat factory chemical handwarmers depending on temps. The handwarmers are worth their weight in gold on really cold days! I have another muff but it's not as warm. I wear gloves to and from the stand, but don't typically wear them once in the stand.

The layer system works! Polypropylene, fleece, wool, and windstopper layer are key IMO. Can't say enough about having a Balaclava and a wool hat too. I might look like the Pillsbury dough boy in the stand but I don't get cold anymore. Hope this helps.

Stay warm

Bulletstuffer

Davemuzz · « **Reply #9 on:** September 13, 2009, 02:59:47 AM »

I have MS. As such my left leg muscles have atrophied because even though my brain tells those muscles to move....the message never gets there. So, because of that, it creates circulation issues and my left foot doesn't get as much blood as my "normal" right foot. (Yeah....there's a point here and I'm gettin to it).

So, I have bought and used Danner boots and RedWing boots from the big "C". Here in Pa. these boots (800grams or 1000grams of thinsulate) have worked fine to keep my "normal" foot warm. And believe me, I don't move much 'cause I can't. And when my left foot got cold....well, let's just say pain is a true state of mind.

So, to conquer this, I use those battery electric socks. The ones that take the "D" cell batteries. Now, I will say that I only get one season out of 'em before they will no longer work. But I will also say that I use 'em alot. I try to get out as much as my body will let me. These electric socks are the only convenient item I have found that will keep my feet warm.

Yeah, batteries are not cheap...and neither are the socks. But, on the cost\pain scale....it's all worth it.

And....if cold bothers you as much as it bothers me. Hey......it's only money.

Dave

mechanic · « **Reply #10 on:** September 13, 2009, 03:06:12 AM »

Unless its super cold, I don't even like insulated boots. My feet sweat when I'm enroute to the stand, and freeze when I stop.

My Dad however had diabetes and poor circulation, and wore Alaskan pac boots here in Ga.

I say use whatever works. The boot blankets look like a good idea.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 13, 2009, 03:07:58 AM »

Use duct tape to stick the chemical hand warmers to the bottoms of your socks. Good chemical hand warmerswill keep your feet warm for many hours. These babys are the best thing I have found in many years.

teddy12b · « **Reply #12 on:** September 13, 2009, 01:59:27 PM »

I've tried the battery socks and couldn't even tell they were on or supposed to be working. I've tried the hand warmer packets in the boots, but I don't think enough air gets to them for it to work. I've thought about buying some Pac boots also, but I don't know what the difference is between those and the rocky 800gr thinsulate boots I have now is.

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #13 on:** September 13, 2009, 02:14:19 PM »

Here is what I do. Boots must not be snug fitting. They must start out bone dry. Wear a regular pair of cotton socks into the stand. While on the ground change into a warm pair of wool socks, store those cotton socks in a ziplock bag. If your boots are too tight to cross your toes with the heavy socks on you will have troubles. The chemical heat packs are a pretty nice addition. If you are going to spend much time out there a second dry pair of socks won't hurt. Climb down the tree and change them out. The climb down will get blood circulating to the feet and probably cure the problem without the change but dry socks are the key if your circulation is good.

Conover , NC is your location? Well heck thats your problem. Y'all can't hunt barefoot all winter long and expect to have warm feet.

Don't take this wrong but, don't come to Mn. after Sept. 15th, I'm just kidding, usually its good till Oct. 15th. Tell ya what though if you find yourself up here in hard water season I'll take you out fishing and you can get hands on experience with fighting back the cold feet. Try the dry socks though you may be suprised at the difference a change in the field makes, especially if you are in rubber boots.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 13, 2009, 03:03:18 PM »

You got that right empty quiver, I have had frost on the ground on the archery opener in mid september here in southern MN. If a person is going to sit a long time there are no warmer boots than the military mickey mouse boots. You put em on when you get to your stand, walking in them sucks.

foto · « **Reply #15 on:** October 04, 2009, 04:50:32 PM »

Hunt in NY and if its really cold I use a sorel pac boot. I have a thinner aftermarket liner that works better than the plain old pressed felt that came with them. First I saturate my feet with a roll on anti perspirant, let em dry and then poly liner sock and wool sock over that cuz If your real active feet will still sweat a little. then I just make sure that the boots are loose enough for me to move my toes around and when I'm in stand I loosen up the laces so I can move my whole foot around inside. Keeps my feet warm in most reasonable temps. For me its the lack of circulation that really freezes my feet. With the pac boots if it really cold they can be loosened even more and a couple of those disposable heater pads slid in. Hope it helps.

Jal5 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 06, 2009, 07:24:02 AM »

Here is a product review from over a year ago but I love these things!

I used the Arctic Shields for the 1st time last Saturday in 15 degree weather. They pulled right up over my size 11 leather boots that have some thinsulate, and my feet were OK for the first time in a long time during the entire hunt. I was in a stand for the afternoon hunt, and while it wasn't a really long hunt, they performed very well for me. I will take them coyote hunting over the next few months and if we go out for wild boar they will be with me then too! I did get the deer too.

Not too expensive as I recall around $25-28 well worth it, they go in my daypack all the time now- kind of fit folded up and lay flat in the pack.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #17 on:** October 06, 2009, 07:51:59 AM »

JAL,

I gotta ask.....where the heck are you to be in 15 degree weather? If you don't want to post where, that's fine. But I'm just curious.

Thanks much.

Dave

PS...my kind of temps!!

Big Nasty · « **Reply #18 on:** October 15, 2009, 11:18:18 PM »

A good pair of insulated rubber boots, and good socks not the cheapo crap and heater packs and presto you are good to go. Empty Quiver is on the money with DON'T USE SNUG BOOTS. With snug boots your feet don't have room to breath and if they sweat at all they will eventually freeze. It makes sense to use snug boots a person thinks the tighter a blanket is around your body the warmer you are. This is only true in bed not in the woods. Try not to get your feet to warm before you are in the stand, and activate heater packs once you are in the stand then put them in your boots. The heater packs now come with sticky tape so you can stick them right to your socks wherever you may want them. You have to get the ones for your feet to get the sticky part, the ones for your hand have no sticky side.

theoldarcher · « **Reply #19 on:** October 16, 2009, 03:34:53 AM »

Hunting in MI, I especially like the late season when it can get pretty cold. All the info on starting out with dry, roomy boots, wicking sox next to the skin with thicker wool sox over, and some kind of wind break over the boots and lower legs is right on! One thing that has helped me as I get older, is a fleece 'belt' with heater pockets in it my wife made for me. It goes under my outer wear and fits over my kidneys, using the larger heater packs. By keeping the blood flow warm through that area, I have noticed a BIG change in my entire body keeping warm. Also don't skimp on a head covering--loosing heat there can make the entire body, including feet feel cold.

Good info! Thanks for sharing.

Arch

teddy12b · « **Reply #20 on:** October 16, 2009, 03:49:47 AM »

Regarding the layering of logn johns I bought some of these two years ago and wow!

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0005054920152a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=Cabela%27s+Goose+Down+Insulated+&Ntk=Products&sort=all&Go.y=8&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&Go.x=10&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

I bought both the Cabelas Goose Down Insulated Top & Bottom and I stay pretty warm in those areas. My feet still get a little cold unless I cover them somehow. Only bad thing about these goose down insulated layers is that by the time I'm done putting everything on I'm twice as wide and look like a little kids stuffed into a snow suit. I did notice that by wearing these my feet have been a little bit warmer.